Special Election voters’ pamphlet available

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg residents can learn about candidates running for school/community college boards and the urban sanitary district and a City ballot measure that will be on the May special district election ballot -- as well as how to register to vote and vote by mail – in a digital voters’ pamphlet made available Thursday, April 20.

Those running in the special election include candidates for the urban sanitary district and the boards of Roseburg Public Schools, Umpqua Community College and Douglas Education Service District. Special District Elections are held in May during odd-numbered years.

Oregon holds only vote-by-mail elections. Registered voters can expect to see election ballots appear in their mailboxes about two weeks before the Tuesday, May 16, special election.

Residents can now find a copy of the May 16, 2023, Special Election Information pamphlet on the City’s website. Residents also can request a printed copy by contacting City Recorder Patty Hitt at 541-492-6866 or phitt@cityofroseburg.org.

“We’re hoping this will provide voters with an opportunity to learn about candidates and the proposed City Charter amendment that will be on their ballots,” said Hitt. “Please watch for your ballots and be sure to vote.”

The Special Election Information pamphlet may be the only place where voters find candidate statements. Candidates for mayor and City Council don’t run in Roseburg’s special district election or primary elections. They run only in November general elections.

The following offices are up for election:

• Roseburg School District #4, Positions 1, 4, 5 and 6 -- Elected to four-year terms ending June 30, 2027;

• Roseburg Urban Sanitary District Authority, Positions 3 and 4 – Elected to four-year terms ending June 30, 2027;

• Umpqua Community College, Zones 1, 2, 3 and 6 – Elected to four-year terms ending June 30, 2027;

• Douglas Education Service District, Zones 1 and 3, and At-Large – Elected to four-year terms ending June 30, 2027.

Here are the candidates who qualified to have their names placed on the ballot by filing nomination petitions and the required number of voter signatures with the Roseburg City Recorder:

• Roseburg School District #4, Position 1: Brandon W. Bishop and Michael Leone;

• Roseburg School District #4, Position 4: Rodney Cotton and Joni R. Sherman;

• Roseburg School District #4, Position 5: Steve Hammerson, Charles Lee, Celia Vander Velden, Anna Allen, Darrell I Orth;

• Roseburg School District #4, Position 6: Rebecca Larson, Andrea Miner and Samantha Frost;

• Roseburg Urban Sanitary District Authority, Position 3: Dan Hults and Tom Dole;

• Roseburg Urban Sanitary District Authority, Position 4: Kelsey Wood;

• Umpqua Community College, Zone 1: John Aschim, Twila R. McDonald and Avelina Avila;

• Umpqua Community College, Zone 2: Melvin “Bud” Smith;

• Umpqua Community College, Zone 3: David Littlejohn;

• Umpqua Community College, Zone 6: Caroline Lydon;

• Douglas Education Service District, Zone 1: Tom Dole, Celia Vander Velden and Meredith Bliss;

• Douglas Education Service District, Zone 3: Gayl Bowser;

• Douglas Education Service District, At-Large: Chris Rusch and Barbara Crawford.

The 2023 Roseburg Special Election Information pamphlet provides voters with information about the City of Roseburg Charter Amendment. The ballot measure asks voters, “Shall the City adopt amendments to the current City Charter?” The information pamphlet summarizes the proposed measure and provides an explanatory statement. No arguments for or against the measure were submitted to the City Recorder. Find more information about the measure on the City website.

Residents who are at least 18 but not already registered to vote must register by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, to vote in the upcoming election. Learn more about registering to vote from the Oregon Secretary of State website.

The City Recorder would like to remind certified candidates that they must follow Oregon state law (ORS 377.720) and the Roseburg Municipal Code to legally post campaign signs and other campaign materials in the 90-day period before the general election. By law, campaign signs can be up through Friday, May 19 – three days after the election.

Campaign signs must adhere to the following rules:

• Signs must not be placed on sidewalks or any other public right-of-way, which is generally the area from the street to the property line and can include sidewalk, grass, gravel, a planting strip, etc.;

• Signs should be no more than 32 square feet and the entire campaign message must be contained on one sign;

• Permission from the property owner is required to post signs on private property;

• Signs are not allowed on or within:

     • public parks;

     • utility poles;

     • bridges or other scenic areas;

     • fences, trees or other publicly posted signs.

Campaign signs found to be violating state law or City Code will be removed and stored at the Roseburg Public Works Shop at 425 NE Fulton St. Signs will be held for 10 days to give owners time to collect them but then discarded.

Candidates and campaign workers should remove campaign signs that were not placed legally. Members of the public who see campaign signs that were placed illegally should report them as soon as possible to the Roseburg Public Works Department at pwd@cityofroseburg.org or 541-492-6730.

Candidates also must adhere to state law by filing campaign finance reports online with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Learn more about deadlines and other requirements in the Oregon Secretary of State’s online 2022 Campaign Finance Manual.

For more information, contact City Recorder Patty Hitt at 541-492-6866 or phitt@cityofroseburg.org.